He hair-styled celebs like Amitabh Bachchan and Bruce Lee but died leaving only Rs 13 for his son. Who is Hakim Kairanvi?

Economic Times

4 hours ago

Aalim Hakim faced hardship after his father's death. His father, Hakim Kairanvi, styled famous actors. Aalim was only nine. The family had very little money. Aalim pursued hairstyling to honor his father. He became a successful stylist. He now works with major Bollywood stars and cricketers. His work features in big films. He is a leading name in Indian hairstyling.
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Aalim Hakim (Pic courtesy- @aalimhakim)
Who is Aalim Hakim?
From losing his father at just nine to becoming Bollywood's most sought-after hairstylist, Aalim Hakim 's journey is a moving tale of resilience, legacy, and relentless passion. Today, his name is synonymous with style in Indian cinema, but few know the heartbreak that shaped him. His father, Hakim Kairanvi, was a legendary hairstylist who worked with icons like Amitabh Bachchan , Vinod Khanna, and even international stars like Bruce Lee. His father was also the hairstylist for Dilip Kumar, Sunil Dutt, and Anil Kapoor. Tragedy struck when Kairanvi passed away suddenly, while on a film set, leaving behind a grieving family and just Rs 13.Aalim Hakim recalled, as reported by the Indian Express, citing Hindi Rush, that his father had been styling Amitabh Bachchan's hair on the sets of the film Mard when he suddenly experienced chest pain. Bachchan reportedly advised him to seek immediate medical attention, but he tragically passed away the very next day at the age of 39. The sudden loss plunged the family into financial turmoil. At the time, savings were rare, and families often lived hand to mouth. Aalim shared that they were left with just Rs 13 when his father died.With no formal training and only faded newspaper clippings of his father for inspiration, young Aalim made it his life's mission to honour his father's name. He said that all he wanted was to earn his father's respect back. And he did.While his father was the hairstylist of Amitabh Bachchan, today, Aalim Hakim is the hairstylist of the veteran actor's son, Abhishek Bachchan.Aalim is also behind some of the most iconic looks in Indian entertainment and sports. According to information from his website, he has worked with stars like Shahid Kapoor, Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, and Sanjay Dutt, to cricketers like Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma , KL Rahul, and Sachin Tendulkar—Aalim's client list reads like a who's who of stardom. His artistry has also left its mark on blockbuster films like Robot and Baahubali, and South industry legends like Rajinikanth, Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR, Vikram, and Tamannaah Bhatia trust him with their on-screen transformations.